Nov. 16, 2008

Final Stats | Quotes | Notes

Watch the Game | Post-Game Press Conference

COLUMBIA, S.C. – Devan Downey posted a season-high 21 points and Dominique Archie and Mike Holmes both collected double-doubles as the South Carolina men’s basketball team outplayed in-state rival Winthrop in an 86-63 rout Sunday at Colonial Life Arena.

The win is South Carolina’s (2-0) largest win against the Eagles (1-1) since a 60-41 victory on February 18, 1991, as the Gamecocks improve to 6-0 all-time against Winthrop.

Four Gamecocks scored in double figures with Zam Fredrick scoring 12 in addition to Downey, Archie and Holmes. Archie earned his fourth career double-double with 12 points and 10 rebounds. It was the fifth career double-double for Holmes who pulled down a game-high 13 rebounds to go with 14 points. Evaldus Baniulis added nine points and nine rebounds while Downey and Branden Conrad each dished out five assists.

The Gamecocks raced out to an early lead that it would not relinquish by opening the game on a 19-0 scoring streak that spanned the opening 7:55. Conrad opened the scoring with a 3-pointer, followed by two Fredrick free throws and an Archie layup after a Winthrop turnover. Downey propelled Carolina to two more baskets after a dish to Archie and a steal on Winthrop’s next possession for the fast break, forcing the Eagles to take their first timeout before the scheduled media timeout. Archie and Austin Steed split Carolina’s next eight points to give the Gamecocks the early 19-0 lead.

Winthrop’s Byron Faison ended the drought with a three-pointer at 12:05 to spark the Eagles. During the streak, Downey registered three assists and five Gamecocks scored led by Archie’s eight points. Following the run – where they went 8-for-16 from the field – Carolina found its hot touch had left as the Gamecocks went 6-for-24 to close out the half, a .250 clip, including nine consecutive missed 3-pointers. In contrast, Winthrop clawed its way back into the match by shooting 9-for-20 after opening with nine consecutive misses.

With under two minutes to go in the first half, the Eagles closed to within 10 points, 32-22, before Downey took the Carolina offense into his hands to score Carolina’s last six points to head into the half with a 36-24 lead.

Out of the break, the Eagles cut the deficit back to 10 points, 41-31, before the Gamecocks once again caught fire, this time from beyond the arc. South Carolina played solid from 3-point range in a 23-7 run to put the game out of reach at 64-38 with 10 minutes remaining. The Gamecocks coasted to the 86-63 final score.

Justin Burton led the Eagles with 13 points as Winthrop falls to 2-19 all-time against teams from the SEC.

South Carolina returns home Saturday, Nov. 22 for a 1 p.m. game against USC Upstate scheduled to air on SportSouth. Winthrop travels to Akron for a Tuesday night tilt scheduled for a 7 p.m. tip-off.